Cyber’s uncertain career paths


James Riley
Editorial Director

For all the talk about the fundamental importance of cyber security and top-notch technical skills to secure Australia’s place in the global digital economy, there is little said about the professional development frameworks that will make cyber management careers more attractive to our best and brightest.

There is much attention given over to development of specific cyber skills borne out of technical disciplines, but less to the need to deeply infuse cyber capability across the line management structure, all the way to boardroom.

The technical coursework within our tertiary institutions that deliver cyber security don’t give students the kind of exposure to management skills, in the same as way is the case with professions like accounting, law, economics or even marketing.

And the coursework for mainstream professionals don’t deliver the kind of baseline understanding of cyber. And that has creating cyber skills gaps in management.

The NSW Government’s just-appointed chief information security officer Maria Milosavljevic and Australian Cyber Security Growth Network CEO Craig Davies will headline InnovationAus.com’s inaugural Cyber Security Leaders 2017 forum in Sydney on May 3 to explore these challenges.

Dr Milosavljevic was announced as the NSW CISO last month, after a two-year sting of as chief information security officer at the Commonwealth anti-money laundering regulator Austrac, and has previously been CISO at the National Crime Commission. This keynote address will be Dr Milosavljevic’s first in the new role.

Craig Davies is well known to the sector. He is a former chief security officer at Cochlear and director of security at Atlassian, and has now taken a drivers sear in public sector efforts to drive Australia’s cyber industry.

Mr Davies has had a unique view of the cyber sector, and the skills gaps among Australia’s senior management layer. As an adviser to Secure Code Warrior, he’s already been involved in private sector efforts to bridge that skills gap.

Also confirmed for Cyber Security Leaders is Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet assistant secretary Sandra Ragg and the Australian Digital Health Agency chief information security officer Anthony Kitzelmann.

Ms Ragg is a cyber policy expert within Prime Minister’s department and was one of the senior architects of the Australian Government Cyber Security Strategy.

Mr Kitzelmann is a former National ICT Security Manager at the Department of Defence, and Chief Security Officer at Crimtrac. Prior to joining the Australian Digital Health Agency three months ago, Mr Kitzelmann was chief information security officer for defence giant Lockheed Martin’s Asia Pacific operations.

The speaker list at Cyber Security Leaders 2017 includes:

Craig Davies, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Cyber Security Growth Network
Maria Milosavljevic, Chief Information Security Officer, NSW Government
Sandra Ragg, Assistant Secretary Cyber Policy, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Anthony Kitzelmann, Chief Information Security Officer and General Manager, Australian Digital Health Agency
Leonard Kleinman, Chief Cyber Security Advisor, RSA
Rachael Falk, Director Technology, Security and Strategy, .au Domain Administration
Sally Ernst, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Cyber Security Network
Andrew Bycroft, Chief Executive Officer, The Security Artist
Jacky Heath, Manager of Prevocational and Online Education, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Skeeve Stevens – Chief Futurist, FutureSumo and former hacker, the ‘Optik Surfer’
Patrick Gray, Host, Risky.Biz and national contributor, ABC Radio

The Cyber Security Leaders 2017 forum is a half-day breakfast event being held on May 3. Book your seats here.

Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.

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